Knock-down door frame



Jan. 20, 1959 z, HERR ET AL KNOCK-DOWN DOOR FRAME V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17. 1956 INVENTORS 77/500025 Z. HE/Qz? BY & owwzzs 11/ 6244014224 E/C/VfK M4775, 5

1959 T. 2. HERR ET L 2,869,695

I KNOCK-DOWN DOOR FRAME Filed Jan. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TORS 3- header member which generally speaking, comprises a channel shaped body having a web portion, opposed upstanding flanges extending'beyond an end of the web to be received in an upper end' of the jamb member and a rigid tab permanently attached to the header member and provided with a portion which projects from the end of the web'at substantially right angles to the plane of the web for receipt in and in engagement with a jamb member bearing against the said flanges of the header member.

Referring specifically to Figure 1, a knock-down slipon, door frame F of this inventionis shown installed in a door opening provided in the wall W of a building structure. This installation is made without apparent connection or anchoring between frame F and wall W in accordance with one of the important objects and advantages of this invention noted above. Frame 'F is made up of a hinge jamb member 10 carrying hinges 11 for a door (not shown), a strike jamb member 12 and a header member 13 bridging the space betweenjambs 10 and 12 and connected to the upper ends of these members to provide a neat, simulated mitered-corner appearance. Hinge jamb 10 is provided near its lower end with an anchorflange 14 which is fastened to a stud 15 of wall W by means of nails 16 (Figure 6). Strike jamb 12 is similarly provided with an anchor flange 17 which is secured by nails 18 to a stud of wall W. By these means the frame is provided with a firm anchorage in its lower portions and at the same time, the tendency for the frame to be distorted due to swelling and/or shrinkage of the stud members would be avoided, the nails remaining relatively in the same position regardless of such dimensional or shape changes as may occur in the studs after installation of the frame.

Hinge jamb 10 is also anchored to the surrounding wall structure by means of screws 20 which serve also to secure hinges 21 to the frame. Screws 20, as illustrated in Figure 6, extend into. stud 15 and by virtue of their relation to the hinges present no apparent external fastening means by which the frame is anchored to the wall. Strike jamb 12 and header 13 are, in effect, anchored to the wall through connecting means subsequently to be described between the header and jambs 10 and '12. In other words, jamb 12, except for flange 17, is floated in the door opening with header 13 which is'not immovably connected to the adjacent wall structure, but is. free to move relative thereto according to changes in position of jamb 10. Y

Jambs 10 and 12 and header member 13 are suitably all of substantially the same conformation in cross section and the same dimensions with the exception that header. member 13 is somewhat shorter than the jambs which are of equal length to provide a regular rectangular frame. Thus, asshown to best advantage in Figure 5, jamb 10 and header 13 are generally channel shaped and each has a web portion with a drop center section. Actually, the web portion is stepped in each instance to provide for interlocking engagement of the slip-on securing means'of this invention. It will be understood that the flange portions of these'channel elements may be flared outwardly as indicated in Figure 6 or otherwise formed to provide the desired appearance in the finished frame. In the case of the Figure members, the flanges are not flared but are disposed substantially parallel in both the header and the jamb member.

Jamh 10, thus, comprises a channel shaped elongated metal member having opposed flanges 24 and 25 disposed in planes substantially parallel to each other and a web portion 26 of stepped construction. The free ends of flanges 24 and 25 are turned inwardly to provide wallengaging portions 27 and 28, respectively, to facilitate installation of the jamb in a wall opening. The upper ends of flanges 24 and 25 project beyond the upper end of web 26jand these flange portions are formed to define a substantially right angle edge with the upper end of the web to provide the corner construction appearance in the finished frame shown in Figure 1.

Web 26 has an outer step 29 and an inner step or drop-center portion 30 and at its upper end, the web is cut away in the central portion on either side of the dropcenter section 30 to provide an intermediate step 31 on each side of the center to support header securing means 32.

Header 13 also has opposed, parallel, upstanding flange portions 35 and 36 with inwardly turned free end portions 37 and 38 to bear against adjacent wall structure and facilitate installation of the frame. Also, like jamb 10, web 39 of the header is of stepped construction with an inner channel defined by a drop-center portion 40. Unlike jamb 10, however, flanges 35 and 36 are square cut and formed to be received in the upper end of jamb 10 so that the mitered corner appearance of frame F is provided by the diagonally cut upper ends of flanges 24 and 25. Also, unlike jamb 10, the two ends of header 13 are of the same form in order that connection of theheader to each of the two jambs can be accomplished in essentially the same manner and by the same means and motions. At the ends of web 39, it is cut away to provide steps 42 and 43 to be engaged with securing means 32 and to carry jamb securing means 45, respectively.

. Securing means 32 comprises a generally U-shaped metal body 50 of relatively heavy gauge by comparison with the'metal of frame F. Ends 51 and 52 of body 50 are turned at substantially right angles to the body and in the same direction so that when the body is mounted on the upper end of Web 26 and secured thereto received in engagement with the upper surface of the adjacent end of web 39 as indicated in Figure 4.

Securing means is an angle iron body of width approximating the width of the inner channel of web 39 and of. gauge substantially the same as body 50. Free I end 54 of securing means 45 projects downwardly over the edge of step 43 at substantially right angles to the plane of Web 39 for receipt in the the inner channel defined by drop center portion 30 of web 26 as also shown in Figure 4.

The end portions of jambs 10 and 12 and header 13 are formed, as described above, and securing means 32 and 45 are also formed and located with respect to the other elements of the assembly as described above, and shown in the accompanying drawings, so that the frame can be installed by a slip-on procedure which is indicated in Figure 2. Clearances are provided in such a way that by rocking header 13 into engagement with jamb 10, securing means 32 and 45 can be brought into interlocking engagement with the respective web elements of the header and jamb. Likewise, jamb 12 can be rocked into interlocking engagement with the other end portion of header 13 and then it remains only for the frame to be anchored in place by installing nails 16 and 18 and an choring screws 20 unless it is desired to aflix the hinge jamb in position with respect to stud 15 by means of.

header 13 withthe exception that a portion of the drop center section will be extended andturned downwardly as indicated at 63 for receipt in the upper end of the jamb. Also a nut 64 will be welded in the upper end of the drop center-section 65 of jamb 60 and an opening will be provided in the jamb web in register with nut ($4. to receive the screw 66 to, bear against end portion 53- of the web of the header. Rocking motion will not necessarily be involved in assembling a frame of the Fig ure 7 type but it will be necessary to turn up screw 66 to bring the header and jamb into firm and secure engagement and to maintain the frame in openand rack-proof condition. It will be understood that a similar securing means will serve to attach the strike jamb of this alternative frame construction to header 61 and that installation of this frame thus, will be easy to accomplish and most of the other important objects and advantages of this invention set out above, will be obtained through the use of this frame.

The frame of Figure 8 is suitably made up of header and jamb members of substantially the same construction as those described above in reference to Figure 5. In this instance, however, the jamb member 70 and header member 71 are secured together by hinge means 73 and the other jamb member of this frame (not shown), is likewise, secured to the header in this manner.

Hinge means 73 may be of generally conventional construction comprising a leaf 74 welded to the upper end of the drop center portion of the web of jamb 70 and a leaf 75 similarly welded to the adjacent end of the drop center portion of header 71. Each leaf is provided with a knuckle element and a pin 77 extending through registered openings in the knuckles which serves to hold the hinge and the jamb and header members together.

In assembling the Figure 8 frame, the header is mounted on the jamb and brought into position so that the hinge elements are aligned and then pin 77 is disposed in place securing these parts together and preventing opening or shifting of the jamb and header members with respect to each other. As in the case of the Figure 7 frame, this one will enable the realization of most, if not all, the important objects and advantages of this invention inasmuch as it is easy to install and requires no special skill or tools, is not expensive to manufacture and accommodates wide variations in door opening dimensions.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the three illustrated embodiments of this invention have in common a number of structural features and functions and a number important advantages. Thus, it will be apparent that the door frames of Figures 1, 7 and 8 all are so constructed that the header and jambs in each case are readily secured together and locked into engagement against relative movement in six directions. In other words, the header cannot move in either of the two endwise directions relative to the jambs, it cannot move laterally either forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the jambs and it is not movable downwardly or upwardly relative to the jambs.

In general, these results are attributable to the mortise and tenon type joints which are common to all three of these illustrated devices of this invention. As illustrated in Figure 5, a jamb of this invention is generally of channel shape as described above and is provided with a web which has a key slot formed in its upper end and abutment surfaces provided on opposite sides of the key slot. Also, the upper edge of the drop-center section of the web which defines the lower extremity of the key slot is provided to engage an under surface of the header web, i. e., the drop-center portion thereof to support the header against downward motion relative to the jamb.

The header of this invention, as generally indicated in Figure 5, has provided at each of its ends key means carried by the header web portion for receipt in the jamb key slots to restrain the header against lateral motion relative to the'jamb. These key means actually are extensions of the flanges of the drop-center portion of the header web as is apparent from the illustration and they bear against the vertical edge portions defining the sides of the key slot of the header when the parts are assembled, as indicated in Figures 3, 7 and 8. The header web 6 also has edgeportions formed on opposite sides of the key means to engage the abutment: surfaces of: the jamb web portions and thereby prevent endwise motion or the header in one direction relative to the jambf In addition to the foregoing elements in common, holddown means are provided in each of these door frame assemblies and means are also incorporated for s the purpose of preventing the header from pulling away from the jamb through relative endwise motion. It is in the specific forms of these two means-where the illustrated devices of this invention differ from each other. In the frames of Figures 5 and 7, the hold-down means are the same and comprise the U-shape metal element 50 which may either be a separate part welded or otherwise secured to the jamb or as those skilled in the art will understand, integrally formed tab portions may be provided to bear against the upper surface of the header web after the manner illustrated in Figures 4 and 7. The hold-down result is secured in the Figure 8 construction by the hinge means, the leaf carried by the jamb serving to provide this anchoring effect through pin 77 and leaf attached to the header.

The means holding the header against pulling away from the jamb is different in each of the three illustrated embodiments of the invention. In Figure 5 this function. is secured through the use of a tab which is welded into the drop-center section of the web with its free end 54 disposed to bear against the inside surface of the dropcenter portion of the adjacent header. In Figure 7, this means comprises an extension of the drop-center portion of the header which projects into the drop-center portion of the jamb where it is engaged by a screw 66, as previously described. In Figure 8, this result is secured through the action of hinge 73, leaf 75 and pin 77 cooperating with leaf 74 to keep the parts together in this respect.

Having thus described the present invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to gain a better understanding and practice the same, we state that what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A knock-down sheet metal frame for a door comprising a jamb member and a header member, each of said members having a generally channel shaped body including a web and substantially parallel flanges projecting from the sides thereof, the flanges at one end of the header member interfittingly engaged with corresponding flanges at the upper end of said jamb member, the webs of each of said members having a longitudinally extending inner step and outer steps at the sides of the inner step and projecting beyond the end of the inner step, each of the projecting ends of the outer steps of one of said members having a flat wall and an edge engaging, respectively, with an edge and a fiat wall of similar projecting ends of the other said member and each of the outer steps of one of said members having a flange projecting laterally from its end and interfitting with the opposed step of the other member, and the inner step of said other member having a flange projecting laterally from its end and interfitting with the opposed inner step of said one member.

2. A knock-down sheet metal frame for a door comprising two jamb members and a header member, each of said members having a generally channel shaped body including a web and substantially parallel flanges projecting from the sides thereof, the said flanges at the upper ends of the jamb members interfittingly engaged with the said flanges at the ends of the header member, the webs of each of said members having a longitudinally extending inner step and outer steps of the sides of the inner step and projecting beyond the end of the inner step, each of the projecting ends of the outer steps of each of said jamb members having a fiat wall and an edge engaging, respectively, with an edge and a flat wall of a, similar proiectingend cfthe outer steps of said header in which the flanges at the ends of the steps comprise member, and each of said outer steps of the jamb memplate members having returned ends and being welded. bers having a flange projecting laterally from its end to the respective ends of said steps.

and interfitting with the opposed steps of the header R f a th t 2 member, and the inner step of the header member having 5 e erences Cite m e file of hls Patent flanges at each end thereof projecting laterally and inter- UNITED STATES PATENTS fitting with the opposed inner steps of said jamb m'em- 1,606,780 Zahner et al Nov. 16, 1926 bers. 2,581,750 Bursik Jan. 8, 1952 3. The combination .of elements as set forth in claim 2 2,601,164 Montgomery June 17, 1952 

